20 Facts About Laura Kenny

Dame Laura Rebecca Kenny, Lady Kenny, is a former British professional track and road cyclist who specialised in track endurance events, specifically the team pursuit, omnium, scratch race, elimination race and madison disciplines.

Laura Kenny was born a month prematurely in Harlow in Essex with a collapsed lung and was later diagnosed with asthma.

Laura Kenny was advised by doctors to take up sport in order to regulate her breathing.

Laura Kenny enjoyed and competed in trampolining but had to give up due to respiratory problems.

Laura Kenny grew up in Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, where she attended Turnford School.

Laura Kenny's older sister Emma Trott is a former road racing cyclist.

Laura Kenny is an avid supporter of Tottenham Hotspur FC Laura Kenny began in the sport together with her sister when they rode alongside their mother who had taken up cycling in order to lose weight.

Laura Kenny won two junior titles at both the 2009 and 2010 British National Track Championships, and placed third in the individual pursuit at the latter to win a place in the 2010 European Track Championships team pursuit squad aged just 18.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Laura Kenny won a gold medal in the team pursuit with Dani King and Joanna Rowsell.

Laura Kenny won gold in the omnium, two days after winning gold in the team pursuit.

Laura Kenny's best result was a second place at the British National Road Race Championships, bringing her the under-23 title, though her road racing was intended to function in service of her track preparation, rather than replacing it.

Laura Kenny took further World and European team pursuit gold medals at the 2013 and 2014 championships, as well as European ominium title and World ominium silver in both those years.

In February 2015, Laura Kenny failed to win a title at the World Championships for the first time in her career, finishing second in both the team pursuit and omnium.

Laura Kenny followed this with gold medals in the scratch race and omnium at the 2016 World Championships in London, as well as a bronze in the team pursuit.

Laura Kenny went on to win the tempo race but could only finish 13th in the elimination race.

Laura Kenny was selected as the flag bearer for the British team at the Games' closing ceremony.

Laura Kenny announced her retirement from cycling on 18 March 2024.

Laura Kenny was named Commonwealth Games England president in March 2025, becoming the youngest person to hold the role.

Laura Kenny received an Honorary Degree from the University of Essex in 2013.

Laura Kenny was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to cycling.